Boston Marathon

A Marathoner's Thoughts On Boston

If you were thinking about qualifying for the Boston Marathon, don’t let these events discourage you; let them galvanize you.

I won’t give up my dream of running the Boston Marathon.

I don’t know if I can write this.

I'm seriously sick to my stomach right now over the explosions at the Boston Marathon. The news is saying they were bombs, so it seems like this was something that was done on purpose. And now at least two people are dead and 64 injured. This is as of writing, just two hours since the explosions happened. It’s probably much worse than that.

I don’t know if I should write this. I don’t want it to seem like I’m taking advantage of a horrible situation. I don’t want it to come across that way. I feel sick. I’m just writing my feelings right now.

I have been planning for a while to attempt to qualify for Boston. My friend Peter and I were just talking about it last night. We're planning to run the Victoria Marathon together this October to try and qualify for Boston.

Maybe this is some kind of terrorism attack — I don't want anyone to jump to any conclusions — but one thing I will say is that even if this was terrorism, it won't stop me.

The only things that will stop me from running the Boston Marathon are my own stubby legs and mediocre genetics. If I can train hard enough to qualify, I will go. I will run.

People lost their lives today, and it's possible they died because of someone else's hatred. Well, to hell with that hatred.

Boston is the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon. Qualifying — and going — has been on my bucket list for a while now. I’ve been putting together a rigorous training plan for the next six months to make my qualifying attempt. I was intending to write several articles about the training process and the qualifying race.

And I still will. The articles are likely going to take a different tone now, because of some murderous asshole.

Screw you, whoever did this. I’m going to train all the harder.

I feel sick right now, and I’m sure many others do too. My heart goes out to those who are hurt. I feel deeply for the families of the dead and injured. This is terrible beyond words.

And it can only be made more terrible by letting it change who we are.

Running a marathon is about passion, dedication and perseverance. The Boston Marathon is the pinnacle of that. It’s an elite badge of honor many runners strive for. It’s an incredible challenge. It’s an example of individual spirit and a desire to be our best. It is a cause for celebration, and that should not change because of today’s events.

It’s something no one can destroy. If you were thinking about qualifying for the Boston Marathon, don’t let these events discourage you; let them galvanize you.

The best way to honor those hurt and killed today — and the best way to say “screw you” to whoever did this — is to run.